The Return of the Holey Whale

As our vessel Arafura Pearl made its return voyage from the Wilsons Prom whale season last Friday, our crew spotted something special off the coast near Powlett River, three humpback whales feeding just a few miles offshore.

They weren’t alone. The scene was alive with activity, with Short-tailed Shearwaters, Australian Fur Seals and Common Dolphins joining the feeding frenzy. It was a fantastic encounter so close to Phillip Island.

But the real surprise? One of the humpbacks was a familiar face.

With a distinctive hole on the left side of its fluke, this whale had been seen earlier in the season. Our captain and crew quickly recognised it and, sure enough, a look back through our photo database confirmed the match; the same individual had been sighted feeding in that exact spot in late July, staying in the area for a full week.

This kind of re-sighting is more than just a thrill for the team, it also provides very interesting data for researchers tracking the whales’ movements. Knowing that this individual was at the same feeding ground for an extended period offers valuable insight into migration patterns and feeding behaviour.

The first image above was taken by crew member Danni last Friday, and the other two by citizen scientists Andrew Young and Jodie Rawiri in late July 2025. All three photos help build a richer picture of this whale’s journey.

What caused the hole in the fluke?

Whale flukes are unique to every individual, bearing colouring patterns and scars that help us identify them. While circular scars are commonly seen on whale skin, a perfect see-through hole through the whale fluke is uncommon. These circular scars are most likely caused by something that sounds a little surreal, they’re bite marks from cookiecutter sharks! These fascinating creatures feed by gouging out round plugs out of larger animals.

These images captured last week off Powlett river show humpback whales and dolphins feeding on bait, as well as a large flock of Short-tailed Shearwaters, with Cape Woolamai in the background. In the last image a whale ‘footprint’ can be seen on the surface of the water, a smooth patch of water created by the fluke movement as the whale dives down.